VietNamNet Bridge – Nick Vujicic enjoyed meeting his Vietnamese fans at the While Palace Conventional Centre in Ho Chi Minh City on May 22.

During his meeting he told the handicapped like him that they should love themselves and others.

Nick, born on December 4, 1982, is a Serbian Australian with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterised by the absence of arms and legs.

He has travelled to 24 countries in five continents to give lectures and inspire young people to overcome challenges in their daily life.

At the meeting, the organising board presented 24 cups and savings books worth VND20 million each for 24 strong-will people and 10 insignias and gifts to 10 philanthropists.

Among them is Nguyen Thi Bich Lan, who has translated Nick’s autobiographies into Vietnamese. Lan suffered serious illness and had to stop going to school when she was a little girl.

However, she managed to study English and gave tutorials for poor children in her hometown Thai Binh province.She decided to help herself by practicing to walk again and translating interesting English works, including Nick’s Life without Limits and Unstoppable.

Another one is Nguyen The Vinh, who lost his right hand at the age of eight. Vinh later spent more than three years learning to play the guitar and harmonica and has become a talented artist and dedicated teacher.

His (Huong Duong) Sunflower Orphans and Disabled Patronage Center is now home to many disadvantaged students.

Despite being hard of hearing Nguyen Phi Long, Director of Phi Long Sand Painting Company in Binh Thuan province, has helped trained 280 people and created jobs for 80 workers.

Nick Vujicic inspires Vietnam’s audiences

More than 2,500 people attended a talk by Nick Vujicic, an inspirational speaker without arms and legs, at the White Palace Conference Centre in Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Binh district on May 22.

The talk was the first stop on the Australian man's speaking tour of the country. Vujicic's appearance was also broadcast on TV, attracting audiences in the thousands tuning in to a live broadcast on Vietnam Television's VTV1 and VTV6 channels.

This programme lasted nearly two and a half hours and moved many to tears.

Vujicic said he was surprised at the enthusiastic response he had received from Vietnamese audiences.

"This is the first time I have visited Vietnam, but it is not the last time," he said.

In the talk, Vujicic said that despite the rare disease that left him with no legs or arms, he always felt happy and loved his life.

"The beautiful thing in my life is the happiness that I receive from helping someone," he said.

Confidence and positive behaviour to life would help overcome difficulties, he said and added that people needed to "love yourself and love each other because we need each other."

He said the value of a person was not in what they could and could not do, as everyone was different.

"We need to know every day is gift," he said. "We have to give thanks for everything we have today."

"Don't give up" was the last message he sent to audiences through his talk. "I love all of you."

On the occasion of Vujicic's visit to Vietnam, 24 people who have not let their disabilities and illnesses including cancer and HIV prevent them from leading successful lives were honoured during the event.

Among the 24 people are translator Nguyen Bich Lan, struck by muscular dystrophy when she was a teenager; Nguyen Phi Long, director of Phi Long Sand Paintings in Binh Thuan province, who suffers from hearing impairment; Nguyen Huong Duong, head of Huong Duong Audio Books Library for the Blind, who lost two legs in an accident when she was 25; and retired teacher Nguyen Ngoc Ky, who uses his legs to do everything because his arms are paralysed.

Each of these outstanding citizens was awarded a savings book worth 20 million VND (952 USD) and the Nghi Luc (Energy) Cup.

Ten other people who have set up shelters and sponsored care for disadvantaged children including those who are homeless and infected with HIV and lonely elderly citizens were also honoured on the occasion.

This morning, Vujicic will host a talk with businesspeople in HCM City and tonight he will have another talk with students in Hanoi.